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Dodgers, MLB honor Jackie Robinson's centennial year

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Vin Scully joined the widow of Jackie Robinson to honor the player who broke baseball's color barrier during Robinson's centennial birthday celebration Monday night.

Scully greeted 96-year-old Rachel Robinson with a kiss after being introduced to the crowd, with Scully drawing the loudest cheers in a rare public appearance.

He stood behind Rachel with his hands holding her arms during the national anthem at Dodger Stadium. They were joined by Robinson's daughter, Sharon, and son, David, who linked arms with their mother as they walked on the field.

Robinson became the first black player in Major League Baseball with the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947. Scully began calling the team's games three years later, and the now-retired Hall of Fame announcer was friendly off the field with the man he called "Jack."

Only 7.7% of current MLB players are black, according to MLB.

"If not for Jackie Robinson, I probably wouldn't be here today playing baseball in the United States," said Cincinnati Reds outfielder Yasiel Puig, who came from Cuba to chase his pro aspirations. "That's the reason we respect this day."

Robinson, who died at age 53 in 1972, would have turned 100 on Jan. 31.

His No. 42 was worn by every major leaguer Monday. The number was retired around the league in 1997.

"For me, it's a big opportunity and responsibility that I hold very dear to my heart," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "To put this uniform on today and wear that number today, 42, it's always special."

Colorado Rockies manager Bud Black recalled reading about Robinson as a youngster.

"To this day I still read about him," Black said in San Diego. "What a pioneer. What a great example of a human being and what he meant to our country, and in the bigger picture, what he meant for all of us culturally, not only in baseball, but in society."

In Minnesota, Toronto Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo started his pregame media session at 3:42 p.m. CDT in honor of Robinson.

"That's probably one of the people in baseball I wish I would've met," he said.

At Dodger Stadium, the pregame ceremonies included 42 current and former Jackie Robinson Foundation scholars. Students from Cleveland Elementary, Washington Middle School and John Muir High - all attended by Robinson while growing up in nearby Pasadena - were on hand.

Robinson's No. 42 was cut into the center field grass.

The Robinson siblings each tossed out first pitches. David's was a strike to Roberts, while Sharon's bounced on its way to catcher Russell Martin.

Sharon Robinson works as MLB's education programming consultant.

The Dodgers hosted an invitation-only 100th birthday celebration in the Stadium Club featuring a sneak preview of the Jackie Robinson Museum, set to open in December in New York City.

Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen and former Dodger Matt Kemp, now with the Reds, came out to home plate to pose with Scully and the Robinson family before the game.

Missing from this year's LA ceremonies was Don Newcombe, the third black pitcher in the major leagues when he was with the Brooklyn and later Los Angeles Dodgers. He and Robinson were among the first four black players named to an All-Star team. Newcombe died in February at age 92.

Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson hosted more than 75 kids for a screening of the Robinson biopic "42."

"It's tough to watch it," Anderson said. "But it's brave on his part, for him to be that guy to go through that and just be a leader and basically break the barrier. A guy that I look up to and a guy that motivates me."

The Seattle Mariners visited the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City on a recent road trip.

"It takes a special person, a special man to go about it, to take as much backlash as he did and still did that in a professional manner," Mariners infielder Tim Beckham said. "It speaks a lot about Jackie Robinson."

Major league players made a $100,000 grant to the Jackie Robinson Foundation in honor of his 100th birthday. It helps fund the college scholarship program run by the foundation, which was founded by Rachel Robinson.

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Associated Press Sports Writers Tim Booth in Seattle, Dave Campbell in Minneapolis, Jay Cohen in Chicago and Bernie Wilson in San Diego contributed to this report.

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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Monday, April 15, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) The Associated Press
Former Los Angeles Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully, center, greets Jackie Robinson's widow Rachel Robinson, third from right, along with Jackie's daughter Sharon, center left, Dodgers co-owner Mark Walter, second from right and Jackie's son David, right, prior to a baseball game between the Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds, Monday, April 15, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) The Associated Press
Milwaukee Brewers' Eric Thames stands for the national anthem on Jackie Robinson Day during a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Monday, April 15, 2019, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps) The Associated Press
Cincinnati Reds' Yasiel Puig flips his bat after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Monday, April 15, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) The Associated Press
Cincinnati Reds' Yasiel Puig tips his helmet to fans as he comes up to bat during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Monday, April 15, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) The Associated Press
Los Angeles Dodgers' Cody Bellinger, center, winces after being hit in the knee by a pitch as a trainer and manager Dave Roberts tend to him during the third inning of a baseball game, Monday, April 15, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) The Associated Press
Miami Marlins left fielder Curtis Granderson wears commemorative shoes for Jackie Robinson Day at Marlins Park before a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Monday, April 15, 2019, in Miami. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) The Associated Press
Miami Marlins' Starlin Castro runs past a commemorative third base bearing No. 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Monday, April 15, 2019, in Miami. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) The Associated Press
Chicago Bears player Eddie Jackson, left, and Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson, right, shake hands before Jackson threw out a ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game between the White Sox and the Kansas City Royals, Monday, April 15, 2019, in Chicago. No. 42 was worn to honor Jackie Robinson. (AP Photo/Matt Marton) The Associated Press
Baltimore Orioles' Miguel Castro, center, and Jesus Sucre, left, celebrate with teammates after defeating the Boston Red Sox during a baseball game in Boston, Monday, April 15, 2019. The players are all wearing (42) in honor of Jackie Robinson Day.(AP Photo/Michael Dwyer) The Associated Press
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